Temple University Athletics
Thursday, November 5
Lincoln Financial Field
7:30 PM
Temple University
34
vs
32
MIAMI (OH)
Temple Wins Seventh Straight Football Game, 34-32, Over Miami
11.5.09 | Football
Late field goal thwarts RedHawk comeback
Photo Gallery
Boxscore in PDF
Postgame Notes & Quotes in PDF
PHILADELPHIA - Freshman Brandon McManus connected on an 18-yard field goal with three seconds remaining to cap a 63-yard drive over the final 2:26 to lead Temple to its seventh straight win, a 34-32 victory over the Miami RedHawks Thursday night at Lincoln Financial Field. It marked the first time that a Temple team won seven straight in a season since the 1973 squad won its final eight games. Temple is now 7-2 overall and in first place in the East Division of the Mid-American Conference with a 5-0 record. Miami falls to 1-9, 1-4.
Led by redshirt freshman QB Zac Dysert, who completed 30 of 50 passes for 418 yards and three touchdowns, Miami scored touchdowns on three straight fourth quarter possessions to turn a 31-13 deficit into a 32-31 lead. Dysert threw for 157 yards and two touchdowns in the final quarter alone, completing 10 of 14 passes. He led scoring drives of 74, 62 and 84 yards, the final one capped by a two-yard touchdown run by Thomas Merriweather with 2:36 remaining.
Temple LB Alex Joseph fielded the ensuing kickoff and fumbled on the Temple 36. The defensive stalwart recovered his miscue, however.
Sophomore QB Chester Stewart, who played well (6-11-0, 143 yds) in his first start of the season, handed off to freshman phenom Bernard Pierce, who carried 18 yards to the Miami 46. On the next play Stewart faked a hand-off to the Owls' offensive threat and found a wide open receiver, redshirt sophomore Joe Jones, down the right sideline for a 31-yard gain.
Two plays later Pierce, who rushed a season-high-tying 40 times for 178 yards and three touchdowns, ran 11 yards to the Miami two. Following a Miami offsides penalty, Pierce was stopped short of the goal-line, setting up the winning field goal.
Pierce, who rushed for over 100 yards for the sixth time this season, carried the load for the Owls all night and especially in the third quarter. The freshman from nearby Ardmore, Pa. carried 15 times for 70 yards in the Cherry and White's first two possessions after intermission. McManus, who has made 14 of 19 field goals on the season, connected on a 42-yarder to cap the first drive while Pierce went up the middle for 14 yards, making some incredible cuts, to find paydirt for the other drive, giving Temple a 31-13 advantage with 5:02.
Miami, who picked up its first win of the season on Saturday, 31-24, over Toledo, then shut down the Temple offense, holding the Owls to two three-and-out possessions while Dyser, who had thrown for over 340 yards in his previous two games, came alive.
The Owls had jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead when Pierce scored the first of his three touchdowns on a one-yard plunge. The drive was setup by a 30-yard punt return by junior Delano Green.
Dysert marched the RedHawks quickly down the field, connecting on three long passes, before the Temple defense held strong on a first and goal at the four to force a 20-yard Trevor Cook field goal.
An interception by sophomore CB Kevin Kroboth at midfield set up the next Owl scoring drive. Sophomore WR James Nixon broke off an 18-yard run on a reverse on the first play with Stewart then connecting with junior WR Michael Campbell on a 30-yard pass play to give Temple a first-and-goal at the three. Miami held strong on three successive running plays, and with McManus back for a 18-yard field goal attempt junior QB Vaughn Charlton took the snap and ran in for the score, making it 14-3 Temple.
Another big pass play, a 45-yard hook-up from Stewart to Nixon, gave Temple the ball at the Miami 7 midway through the second quarter set up Pierce's second touchdown run, a seven-yarder to make it 21-3.
Dysert quickly answered with an 11-yard touchdown pass to Armand Robinson on the next possession and then, following a fumbled snap by Stewart at the Owl 21, tacked on a 26-yard Cook field goal to close out the half trailing just 21-13.
Temple, which clinched its first winning season since 1990, next plays at Akron on Friday, November 13 at 8:30 p.m. The game will be televised live on ESPNU and can be heard on The Big Talker, 1210 AM WPHT.
Boxscore in PDF
Postgame Notes & Quotes in PDF
PHILADELPHIA - Freshman Brandon McManus connected on an 18-yard field goal with three seconds remaining to cap a 63-yard drive over the final 2:26 to lead Temple to its seventh straight win, a 34-32 victory over the Miami RedHawks Thursday night at Lincoln Financial Field. It marked the first time that a Temple team won seven straight in a season since the 1973 squad won its final eight games. Temple is now 7-2 overall and in first place in the East Division of the Mid-American Conference with a 5-0 record. Miami falls to 1-9, 1-4.
Led by redshirt freshman QB Zac Dysert, who completed 30 of 50 passes for 418 yards and three touchdowns, Miami scored touchdowns on three straight fourth quarter possessions to turn a 31-13 deficit into a 32-31 lead. Dysert threw for 157 yards and two touchdowns in the final quarter alone, completing 10 of 14 passes. He led scoring drives of 74, 62 and 84 yards, the final one capped by a two-yard touchdown run by Thomas Merriweather with 2:36 remaining.
Temple LB Alex Joseph fielded the ensuing kickoff and fumbled on the Temple 36. The defensive stalwart recovered his miscue, however.
Sophomore QB Chester Stewart, who played well (6-11-0, 143 yds) in his first start of the season, handed off to freshman phenom Bernard Pierce, who carried 18 yards to the Miami 46. On the next play Stewart faked a hand-off to the Owls' offensive threat and found a wide open receiver, redshirt sophomore Joe Jones, down the right sideline for a 31-yard gain.
Two plays later Pierce, who rushed a season-high-tying 40 times for 178 yards and three touchdowns, ran 11 yards to the Miami two. Following a Miami offsides penalty, Pierce was stopped short of the goal-line, setting up the winning field goal.
Pierce, who rushed for over 100 yards for the sixth time this season, carried the load for the Owls all night and especially in the third quarter. The freshman from nearby Ardmore, Pa. carried 15 times for 70 yards in the Cherry and White's first two possessions after intermission. McManus, who has made 14 of 19 field goals on the season, connected on a 42-yarder to cap the first drive while Pierce went up the middle for 14 yards, making some incredible cuts, to find paydirt for the other drive, giving Temple a 31-13 advantage with 5:02.
Miami, who picked up its first win of the season on Saturday, 31-24, over Toledo, then shut down the Temple offense, holding the Owls to two three-and-out possessions while Dyser, who had thrown for over 340 yards in his previous two games, came alive.
The Owls had jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead when Pierce scored the first of his three touchdowns on a one-yard plunge. The drive was setup by a 30-yard punt return by junior Delano Green.
Dysert marched the RedHawks quickly down the field, connecting on three long passes, before the Temple defense held strong on a first and goal at the four to force a 20-yard Trevor Cook field goal.
An interception by sophomore CB Kevin Kroboth at midfield set up the next Owl scoring drive. Sophomore WR James Nixon broke off an 18-yard run on a reverse on the first play with Stewart then connecting with junior WR Michael Campbell on a 30-yard pass play to give Temple a first-and-goal at the three. Miami held strong on three successive running plays, and with McManus back for a 18-yard field goal attempt junior QB Vaughn Charlton took the snap and ran in for the score, making it 14-3 Temple.
Another big pass play, a 45-yard hook-up from Stewart to Nixon, gave Temple the ball at the Miami 7 midway through the second quarter set up Pierce's second touchdown run, a seven-yarder to make it 21-3.
Dysert quickly answered with an 11-yard touchdown pass to Armand Robinson on the next possession and then, following a fumbled snap by Stewart at the Owl 21, tacked on a 26-yard Cook field goal to close out the half trailing just 21-13.
Temple, which clinched its first winning season since 1990, next plays at Akron on Friday, November 13 at 8:30 p.m. The game will be televised live on ESPNU and can be heard on The Big Talker, 1210 AM WPHT.
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